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Depression in a pediatric intensive care unit nursing staff
D R DeMaso1, B J Masek, K Wentzel
1Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Critical Care Medicine
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) nurses reported significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to non-ICU nurses. This highlights the unique stressors faced by critical care nursing staff.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychiatry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) present unique stressors for nursing staff.
- Assessing the mental health of ICU nurses is crucial for understanding workplace demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the frequency of depressive symptoms between ICU and non-ICU nurses in a pediatric setting.
- To identify potential differences in mental health outcomes related to critical care nursing.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 36 ICU nurses and 23 non-ICU nurses.
- Assessment of depressive symptoms using standardized criteria.
Main Results:
- ICU nurses exhibited a significantly higher frequency (28%) of depressive symptoms compared to non-ICU nurses (13%).
- The rate of depressive symptoms among ICU nurses was more than double the age group norm (12%).
Conclusions:
- The demanding nature of pediatric critical care nursing is associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms.
- Further research is warranted to explore the specific stressors and develop targeted support for ICU nurses.